The Chrysler 300C shakes off the stereotypes, and re-invents itself as an executive’s dream ride

Without being patronising, Chrysler has come a very long way in the last few years. It has evolved as well as any manufacturer on the market and what it offers the consumer nowadays is better than ever. Chrysler’s products are not only good to drive, but are great to look at too. We were lucky enough to be given a chance to test the 300C for Afropolitan.

Some of you may remember the older 300C which looked like a Bentley knock-off and had a gangster-like stigma attached to it. The newer, sexy edition of the 300C throws these stereotypes out the window and delivers a sedan fit for a CEO’s parking space. It is all business inside and out and looks both professional and unique.

When designing the newer 300C, it is quite evident that Chrysler did not want to lose the identity of the old 300C, but were looking for just a little more refinement. The large front grill and bold aerodynamic lines create that aggressive, over-the-top look of the older version, yet the slick solid headlamps tone down the front end. The 300C has an almost coupe-styled design with a swooping back-end which gives it the sportier look, but does ever so slightly cramp the rear headroom for the six-foot-plus passenger. The 20-inch wheels and swooping arches mean that the side profile of the 300C is instantly noticeable.

Without being patronising, Chrysler has come a very long way in the last few years. It has evolved as well as any manufacturer on the market and what it offers the consumer

The new mantra of excellence is carried from the outside in and the 300C over-delivers on luxury. When you look at some of the more popular German business sedans on the market today, everything is an optional extra and you end up having to add a fortune onto the base price to have a car fit for your every need. The 300C doesn’t do that, because everything you may ever need or want is a standard feature.

The sound system will blow your mind; it is a 7.1 channel surround sound system with 9 Alpine speakers that create crystal clear tones which are literally music to your ears. The Uconnect touch screen system has one of the largest displays we have ever seen and with this system you are able to operate everything from the navigation to your cell phone. Leather seats, climate control and a sunroof are just some of the other features inside the 300C we really loved.

Now all of these features would be no good if the 300C didn’t deliver on the tarmac. We had the 3.0 litre V6 CRD version to test and the diesel engine not only impressed with performance off the line, but with overall power delivery too. For a diesel we expected a better fuel economy and the consumption was as high as some of the petrol competitors in its market, but finding that flaw in the 300C actually made us rather happy, as it was difficult to find anything else wrong with this executive sedan. The claimed 7.2 litres per 100km driven was actually closer to 10.5 on a combined cycle.

At R562 990 the 300C is not a cheap car, but when weighed up against what you have to pay for a competitor’s car plus the extra features, the 300C could be the bargain of the century.